Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis
Bluff lupine
Photo: parent species Lupinus littoralis · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis (Bluff lupine) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive yellow roots and shaggy hairs at nodes.
Bluff lupine is a California native perennial found along coastal regions in sandy dunes, beaches, and bluffs at elevations from sea level to 50 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces distinctive purple flowers with a white banner spot, arranged in open clusters 12 to 15 centimeters long. Growing less than 30 centimeters tall with yellow roots, the plant is covered in strigose to shaggy hairs, particularly dense at the leaf nodes. Its leaves have long petioles 3 to 5 centimeters long, with leaflets 20 to 35 millimeters in length, creating a delicate, spreading form. The plant's stipules measure 8 to 16 millimeters, contributing to its characteristic coastal woodland appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; distinctive yellow roots and shaggy hairs at nodes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes, beaches, bluffs and terraces, sandy soil
Elevation: 0-50(100) m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Lupine has pea flowers and palmate leaves; sage has tubular two-lipped flowers and opposite leaves.; vs Artemisia: Lupine has large showy flower spikes; sagebrush has tiny inconspicuous flowers and silvery aromatic foliage.; vs Thermopsis: Lupine typically has 7-11 leaflets; false lupine has exactly 3 leaflets and bright yellow flowers.; vs Delphinium: Lupine has pea flowers; larkspur has flowers with prominent backward-pointing spur.; vs Vicia: Lupine is upright with palmate leaves; vetch is climbing with pinnate leaves and tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis native to California?
Yes. Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis bloom?
Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis belong to?
Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Lupinus.
What habitat does Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis grow in?
Lupinus littoralis var. littoralis grows in Coastal dunes, beaches, bluffs and terraces, sandy soil.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-15
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.